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Lot Essay
This note of Orpen's refers to the fruition of Hugh Lane's vision of establishing a Modern Art Gallery in Dublin. The artist is wishing Lane well for the official opening of the gallery, which opened to the public on 20 January 1908.
The sketch depicts Hugh Lane as a laureate, on top of the world. For, hanging above his almost naked body like a halo, is what appears to be a laurel-leaf crown signifying his triumph. Orpen represented Hugh Lane in at least one other sketch in a similar fashion. The sketches may have been the result of a long standing tease, perhaps originating from when they visited the Prado Museum in Madrid together in 1904. Could Orpen have noted a similarity between Lane with his moustache and Velázquez's Mars (circa 1639-1641), and thus attired him likewise?
The monograph signature is unusual. However, Orpen would vary his mode of signing letters according to whom he was addressing the correspondence. It probably had a private and symbolic significance for Lane which could well have been rather base or crude.
O.R.P.
The sketch depicts Hugh Lane as a laureate, on top of the world. For, hanging above his almost naked body like a halo, is what appears to be a laurel-leaf crown signifying his triumph. Orpen represented Hugh Lane in at least one other sketch in a similar fashion. The sketches may have been the result of a long standing tease, perhaps originating from when they visited the Prado Museum in Madrid together in 1904. Could Orpen have noted a similarity between Lane with his moustache and Velázquez's Mars (circa 1639-1641), and thus attired him likewise?
The monograph signature is unusual. However, Orpen would vary his mode of signing letters according to whom he was addressing the correspondence. It probably had a private and symbolic significance for Lane which could well have been rather base or crude.
O.R.P.